Josephine grabbed her arm. "Why are you rushing? Aren't you planning to break up with him? Where he goes shouldn't matter to you."
Laura was taken aback.
A few seconds later, she climbed into bed, leaned against the headboard, and said flatly, "You're right."
Josephine intended to tease Laura, but she didn't anticipate her taking it seriously, causing Josephine to panic. "What? I was just kidding."
"I'm not," Laura said, "I've been thinking a lot these past couple of days. We're really not right for each other."
"I think you're just bored!" Josephine reached out to pull her. "You're just using the fact that he's into you , and you're treating him like this!"
Laura dodged her and buried herself under the covers.
Josephine was so mad she wanted to kick her. "How can you be like this? Get out here!"
Laura stayed hidden under the covers, refusing to come out.
"When you lecture me, you're pretty tough." Josephine shouted at her. "Why are you so timid and overthinking about yourself? Where's your courage?"
Laura slowly pulled down the covers, revealing half of her face. Her big, enchanting eyes blinked.
She said, "I'm not scared; I just think it's unnecessary."
Josephine asked, "So you don't like him? You can just break up like that?"
Laura said, "He doesn't like me either. It's been two days, and he hasn't asked about me once."
Josephine replied, "You blocked him. How can he ask you? Laura, love can be exhausting. Steven has already tried very hard."
"If being with me is so exhausting, then why stay together?" Laura sat up abruptly. "Breaking up would be better!"
"You!" Josephine was furious. "You're simply unreasonable!"
"He's tired." Laura lay back down, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Josephine, he said he's tired."
Josephine was taken aback.
"I know I have many flaws," Laura said, "I'm selfish, domineering, unreasonable. But you know, I wasn't like this before. We've been together for almost ten years. I was with him before I was twenty. He's the one who made me like this. He used to say he'd spoil me forever. Now, he says he's tired."
Josephine was silent for a few seconds. She sat on the edge of the bed and held Laura's hand. "He's human, not a robot. Emotions can build up until they reach a breaking point, and they might explode when something happens. Letting it out is actually a good thing. I never used to lose my temper with Stuart."
Laura forced a smile. "We're two extremes. Neither is good."
"Right," Josephine said, "So we need to change."
Laura asked, "Are you still giving Stuart a chance?"
Josephine gave her a light slap. "I'm talking about you. Don't drag me into this!"
"I'm tired too." Laura closed her eyes. "I don't want to be in love anymore."
Josephine said, "What are you tired of? Aren't all the problems caused by you? If you just get along with him, wouldn't everything be fine? You don't have to worry about food or drink. He buys you whatever you want. You're just making trouble for yourself."
"If anyone else said that to me." Laura opened her eyes and looked at her. "I'd argue with them."
"That's why only I can say it," Josephine said. "Steven said he's on a business trip and will be back in three to five days. When he comes back, he'll make it up to you."
Laura suppressed a smile. "Who needs him to make it up to me?"
"Don't be so stubborn," Josephine said, "Remember how quickly you got dressed earlier?"
Laura, feeling both embarrassed and angry, pulled the covers over herself. "Sleep!"
Josephine reminded her, "By the way, take him off the blacklist."
Laura replied, "No way!"
Josephine turned off the light and got into bed.
She knew Laura wasn't asleep. After a while, she said, "Love is really a magical thing."
Laura immediately threw off the covers. "I told you, you're not allowed to forgive Stuart so easily!"
Josephine laughed. "I didn't. I was just expressing my feelings."
"I know you too well!" Laura said, "When you say that, you must be moved."
Josephine was silent, feeling speechless. She didn't realize she was moved, unlike Laura.
Josephine sighed. "I almost want to end our friendship."
Laura scooted over. "I just got dumped by Steven. If you end our friendship too, wouldn't I be even more pitiful?"
"When did he dump you?" Josephine said angrily, "You should be the one dumping Steven!"
Laura asked, "Are you on his side?"
Josephine said, "I'm just telling the truth."
Laura said, "You should be on my side!"
"So you know you're in the wrong." Josephine laughed. "That's rare."
Laura, angry, hit her, and they both laughed.
The next morning, Josephine received a message from Stuart.
Stuart: [My stomach feels much better. The porridge was delicious. Thank you.]
Josephine didn't reply. After washing up, Laura asked her, "Didn't you say Emily contacted you yesterday?"
Josephine nodded.
Laura asked, "What's going on with her?"
Josephine said, "She called me heartless, unfilial, and said I don't care about my parents' feelings."
Before Josephine could finish, Laura was furious. "What gives her the right to say that? Does she really think she's your sister? What a person!"
Josephine said, "Don't be angry. I'm not mad, so why are you?"
Laura replied, "Birds of a feather flock together. Your parents aren't good people either..."
Laura glanced at her and didn't say anything disrespectful.
Josephine smiled. "It's okay."
Laura said angrily, "When you were with Stuart, you suffered so much. We all advised you to get a divorce. Only they didn't care about your feelings and even asked you to apologize to Stuart. What kind of parents do that? I think you were picked up from the trash! You should get a DNA test!"
Laura had said similar things countless times.
Josephine just smiled.
She said, "Emily wants me to attend her engagement party."
Laura cursed, "Is she really getting engaged to someone from The Campbell Family? She's got some nerve!"
"Not just that," Josephine said, "I also heard she's friends with the youngest Miss Campbell."
"Shirley Campbell?" Laura said, "Isn't she the one the whole Campbell family dotes on? She's not in good health and rarely goes out. How did Emily meet her?"
Josephine shook her head. "I don't know. Anyway, I think Emily is quite capable."
Laura said, "Of course she is. Your parents are practically becoming her parents! Emily is capable; you need to be wary of her."
"Yeah," Josephine said, "Anyway, she won't get any shares of the company. As for the rest, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to her engagement."
"Go!" Laura said, "Why not? You're prettier, taller, and have a better figure than her. Steal her spotlight and piss her off!"
Josephine laughed. "Then why does she insist on inviting me?"
Laura explained, "The wealthier the family, the more they care about family harmony. You're her sister in name. If you don't go, she'll lose face. How will she explain to The Campbell Family?"